Parents speak out against firing of Del Mar schools chief

DEL MAR  Two weeks after the Del Mar school board fired its superintendent, Sharon McClain, a group of parents told the trustees their days are numbered.

Compared with the outrage that preceded McClain’s ouster, Wednesday night’s protest at a board meeting seemed tame. Nevertheless, the dozen or so protesters said they are organizing to make sure the Del Mar Union School District board sees some big changes in the November elections.

On March 31, trustees Katherine White, Annette Easton and Doug Perkins voted to fire McClain at a specially scheduled board meeting held in the middle of a workday, when most parents and teachers were unable to attend.

McClain has vowed to sue the school district, saying she was ousted for no reason. Because the trustees claimed that McClain had committed a “material breach” of her contract, they severed her contract and immediately ended salary payments and benefits.

Board members have refused to say anything about their decision, although for months McClain and the board had clashed over the superintendent’s management style.

Some trustees claimed that McClain did not keep them adequately informed on various school issues, a charge McClain strongly denied. Board critics have argued that trustees have tried to micromanage district affairs.

At last Thursday’s board meeting, a handful of speakers said the board had acted recklessly in firing McClain.

“You have taken an action fully knowing that you are burdening the district with an expensive lawsuit at a time when we are struggling with severe financial cutbacks,” parent Jill Steiner told the board Wednesday.

Parent Heidi Niehart said, “I would ask that four of you resign now, but if not, we will get rid of you in November.” She was referring to White, Easton, McDowell and Perkins. Perkins will not face re-election until 2012.

In February 2008, White, Easton and McDowell voted to oust Superintendent Tom Bishop after the three board members had clashed with him over management issues.

The trustees struck a deal with Bishop to make him leave, at a cost to the district of more than $300,000.

Six months later, the trustees announced their unanimous decision to hire McClain, then the superintendent of Hermosa Beach City School District.

James Peabody, who is serving part-time as superintendent at Julian Union High School District until a replacement can be found there, was appointed by the Del Mar board on April 1 to serve as interim superintendent. The school board is expected to vote on an employment contract with Peabody by the end of the month.

“I am more than delighted to be here, and to be of service to the community and the school board,” Peabody said in a statement last Thursday. “I am interested in helping to move the school district forward and aid (the school board) in selecting a new leader, when that point comes.”